L 


ZTER 

Souvenir  of  Lexington. 


E 
241 

L6P8 


I 


wv 


LEXINGTON    CENTENNIAL  COMMITTEE 

BY 
REV.  E.  G.   PORTER  &  H.  M.  STEPHENSON. 


COPYRIGHT,    1875,   BY    E.    G.    PORTER. 


LEXINGTON,- 1 7  75 


No  maddening  thirst  for  blood  had  they, 
No  battle-joy  was  theirs  who  set 
Against  the  alien  bayonet 

Their  homespun  breasts  in  that  old  day. 


Their  feet  had  trodden  peaceful  ways, 
They  loved  not  strife,  they  dreaded  pain  ; 
They  saw  not,  what  to  us  is  plain, 

That  God  would  make  man's  wrath  his  praise. 


No  see'rs  were  they,  but  simple  men  : 
Its  vast  results  the  future  hid  ; 
The  meaning  of  the  work  they  did 

Was  strange  and  dark  and  doubtful  then. 


Swift  as  the  summons  came  they  left 
The  plough,  mid-furrow,  standing  still, 
The  half-ground  corn-grist  in  the  mill, 

The  spade  in  earth,  the  axe  in  cleft. 

5- 

They  went  where  duty  seemed  to  call  ; 
They  scarcely  asked  the  reason  why  : 
They  only  knew  they  could  but  die, 

And  death  was  not  the  worst  of  all. 


6. 
Of  man  for  man  the  sacrifice, 

Unstained  by  blood,  save  theirs,  they  gave. 

The  flowers  that  blossomed  from  their  grave 
Have  sown  themselves  beneath  all  skies. 


Their  death-shot  shook  the  feudal  tower, 
And  shattered  slavery's  chain  as  well : 
On  the  sky's  dome,  as  on  a  bell; 

Its  echo  struck  the  world's  great  hour. 


That  fateful  echo  is  not  dumb  : 
The  nations,  listening  to  its  sound, 
Wait,  from  a  century's  vantage-ground, 

The  holier  triumphs  yet  to  come,  — 


The  bridal  time  of  Law  and  Love, 
The  gladness  of  the  world's  release, 
When,  war-sick,  at  the  feet  of  Peace 

The  hawk  shall  nestle  with  the  dove,  — 


The  golden  age  of  brotherhood, 
Unknown  to  other  rivalries 
Than  of  the  mild  humanities, 

And  gracious  interchange  of  good, 


When  closer  strand  shall  lean  to  strand, 
Till  meet,  beneath  saluting  flags, 
The  eagle  of  our  mountain  crags, 

The  lion  of  our  Mother-land. 


John   G.  Whittier. 


DURING     the    spring    of 
—     1775,  the  colonists  of  Mass- 
"IlT         -  acnusetts>      anticipating      a 

possible    rupture    with    the 

— ^  Royal  Government,  had  tak- 


-  en  the  precaution  to  collect 
"  \/'^    ~ 

A»iB.k«a^r***'"'  a  few  military  stores  at  con- 
venient points  in  the  interior.  Sev- 
eral leading  patriots  had  also  shown 
extraordinary  independence  in  assert- 
ing their  rights,  and  creating  a  public 
sentiment  which  was  opposed  to  the  policy  of  the 
government.  Hearing  of  this,  Gen.  Gage,  the 
governor,  jealous  of  his  prerogatives,  and  eager 
to  maintain  the  authority  of  the  crown,  formed  a  plan  to 
destroy  the  stores  at  Concord,  and  get  possession,  if  possible, 
of  the  persons  of  John  Hancock  and  Samuel  Adams,  who 
were  known  to  be  in  the  vicinity.  Accordingly  a  secret  expedition  was  organized, 
consisting  of  a  detachment  of  eight  hundred  grenadiers,  light  infantry,  and  marines, 

under  the  command  of  Lieut.-Col.  Fran- 
cis Smith,  of  the  Tenth  British  Regi- 
ment, and  Major  John  Pitcairn. 

On  the  i8th  of  April,  a  number  of 
officers  in  disguise  were  sent  to  Cam- 
bridge and  Lexington  on  a  tour  of  in- 
spection, with  orders  to  intercept  all 
suspicious  communications.  That  night, 
about  ten  o'clock,  the  fated  expedition 
embarked  from  the  foot  of  Boston  Com- 
mon in  the  boats  belonging  to  the  ves- 
sels-of-war  at  anchor  in  Charles  River. 

"  They  will  miss  their  aim,"  said  one 
of  the  citizens,  who  witnessed  their  de- 
parture. 

"  What  aim  ?  "  asked  Lord  Percy,  who  chanced  to  be  standing  near. 
"  Why,  the  cannon  at  Concord,"  was  the  reply. 

Percy,  fearing  trouble,  at  once  reported  to  the  governor  what  he  had  heard  ;  and 
orders  were  immediately  issued  that  no  one  should  be  allowed  to  leave  the  town. 
But  it  was  too  late.  Joseph  Warren  had  followed  all  these  movements  with  sleep- 
less vigilance,  and  had  already  sent  two  trusty  couriers,  by  different  routes,  to 
Lexington  with  despatches.  William  Dawes  was  to  go  out  through  Roxbury,  and 


"  Meanwhile,  impatient  to  mount  and  ride, 
Booted  and  spurred,  with  a  heavy  stride 
On  the  opposite  shore  walked  Paul  Revere. 
Now  he  patted  his  horse's  side, 
Now  gazed  at  the  landscape  far  and  near, 
Then,  impetuous,  stamped  the  earth, 
And  turned  and  tightened  his  saddle-girth  ; 
But  mostly  he  watched  with  eager  search 
The  belfry-tower  of  the  Old  North  Church, 
As  it  rose  above  the  graves  on  the  hill, 
Lonely  and  spectral  and  sombre  and  still. 
And  lo  !  as  he  looks,  on  the  belfry's  height 
A  glimmer,  and  then  a  gleam  of  light ! 
He  springs  to  the  saddle,  the  bridle  he  turns, 
But  lingers  and  gazes,  till  full  on  his  sight 
A  second  lamp  in  the  belfry  burns  !  " 


Paul  Revere  by  way  of  Charlestown.  Revere  was  ferried  across  under  the  very 
guns  of  the  Somerset  man-of-war.  Having  learned,  by  a  preconcerted  signal  from 
the  tower  of  the  Old  North  Church,  which  way  the  king's  troops  had  gone,  he  imme- 
diately started  on  a  fleet  horse  upon  his  momentous  errand. 


"A  hurry  of  hoofs  in  the  village  street, 
A  shape  in  the  moonlight,  a  bulk  in  the  dark, 
And  beneath,- from   the  pebbles,   in   passing,  a 

spark 
Struck    out    by    a    steed     flying     fearless    and 

fleet: 


That  was  all !     And  yet,  through  the  gloom  and 

the  light, 

The  fate  of  a  nation  was  riding  that  night ; 
And  the  spark  struck  out  by  that  steed  in  his 

flight 
Kindled  the  land  into  flame  with  its  heat. " 


Passing  Charlestown  Neck,  he  narrowly  escaped  capture  at  the  hands  of  a  patrol- 
ling party,  and  pushed  on  through  Medford  and  Menotomy  (now  Arlington),  giving 
the  alarm  at  every  house  upon  the  road.  Shortly  after  midnight,  he  arrived  at  the 
parsonage  in  Lexington,  where  Hancock  and  Adams  were  staying  with  their  intimate 
friend  and  fellow-patriot,  the  Rev.  Jonas  Clark.  The  house  was  guarded  by  a  squad 
of  eight  minute-men  under  Sergeant  Munroe.  Revere  rode  up  in  great  haste,  and 
demanded  admission.  The  sergeant  objected,  and  said  the  family  had  retired,  and 
must  not  be  disturbed  by  any  noise  about  the  house.  "  Noise  !  "  cried  Revere, 
"  you'll  have  noise  enough  here  before  long.  The  regulars  are  coming  out !  "  As 
he  knocked  at  the  door,  Mr.  Clark  opened  a  window,  and  inquired  who  was  there. 
Just  then  Hancock  rose  from  his  bed,  and,  recognizing  Revere's  voice,  shouted, 
"  Come  in,  Revere,  we  are  not  afraid  of  you."  Shortly  after,  the  other  messenger, 
Dawes,  who  had  come  out  through  Roxbury,  Brookline,  and  Brighton,  arrived  with 
the  same  tidings. 

Without  stopping  to  rest,  these  faithful  heralds  mounted  again,  and  started  off  for 
Concord.  They  were  joined  by  young  Dr.  Prescott  of  Concord,  who  had  been 
spending  the  evening  at  Lexington.  Glad  of  each  other's  company,  they  rode  on 
rapidly  together,  in  the  light  of  the  full  moon,  spreading  the  alarm  at  every  point. 
Just  before  reaching  Brooks's  Tavern,  near  the  Concord  line,  they  were  surrounded 


by  a  party  of  British  officers ;  and 
Revere,  who  was  riding,  just  then, 
a  little  in  advance,  was  captured. 
Prescott,  however,  escaped  over  a 
stone  wall,  and  succeeded  in  carry- 
ing the  news  to  Concord.  The  offi- 
cers questioned  Revere  closely,  and 
soon  decided,  for  their  own  safety, 
doubtless,  to  return  towards  Lexing- 
ton, where,  about  three  o'clock  in 
the  morning,  they  released  their 
prisoners,  in  consequence  of  the 
general  alarm  which  had  spread  throughout  the  village. 

Meanwhile,  the  troops,  who  were  the  cause  of  all  this  excitement, 
had  landed  at  East  Cambridge,  near  where  the  Court  House  now 
stands,  and  proceeded  stealthily  over  an  unfrequented  and  difficult 
route  across  the  marshes,  guided  by  a  young  Tory  named  Murray,  till 
they  came  to  the  old  Charlestown  Lane,  now  Milk  Street.  The  rest 
of  the  march  was  by  a  well-travelled  road,  along  North  Avenue,  where  the  old  Dav- 
enport Tavern  still  stands,  and  by  Wetherby's,  in  Menotomy,  where  the  Committee 
of  Safety,  appointed  by  the  Provincial  Congress,  had  been  in  session  the  previous 
evening.  As  the  British  column  passed  the  house,  the  commander  sent  a  small 
guard  to  search  the  premises.  So  sudden  was  their  approach,  that  Gerry,  Orne, 

and  Lee,  prominent  members  of  the 
Committee,  who  were  passing  the  night 
there,  barely  had  time  to  escape,  half- 
dressed,  into  the  neighboring  fields, 
where  they  lay  concealed  until  the  dan- 
ger was  over. 

It  was  not  long  before  Col.  Smith 
found,  to  his  dismay,  that  the  news  of 
his  expedition  had  travelled  before  him. 
Though  he  had  maintained  profound 
silence,  suppressing  the  ordinary  drum- 
beat, and  even  all  conversation  amongst 
his  men,  he  now  perceived  that  the  se- 
cret was  out.  Shadowy  forms  were  hov- 
ering upon  his  flank ;  horsemen  were 
galloping  ahead ;  alarm-bells  and  signal 
guns  rent  the  midnight  air  with  their 
ominous  sound.  It  was  evident  that  the 
country  for  "miles  around  was  thoroughly 
aroused.  Accordingly,  after  a  brief  halt, 
the  colonel  concluded  to  send  forward 
six  companies  of  light  infantry  and  ma- 
rines under  Major  Pitcairn,  while  he 
^MlBSBsaa*^  »*V\  I  despatched  an  express  to  Boston  for 


re-enforcements,  —  a  prudent  measure,  which 
saved  him  from  absolute  defeat  before  the  close 
of  the  day. 

Pitcairn's  troops  had  not  gone  far  up  the  road, 
when  they  met  the  officers,  who  had  released 
Revere,  coming  back  in  great  haste  with  the 
,,  news  that  hundreds  of  men  had  assembled  on 
Lexington  Green  to  oppose  their  march.  The 
story  was  exaggerated,  as  such  stories  are  apt 
to  be ;  but  the  alarm  had  spread  with  such 
rapidity,  that  the  minute-men  had  turned  out 
in  full  force,  under  Capt.  John  Parker,  as  early 
as  two  o'clock.  The  roll  was  called ;  and,  in- 
cluding the  old  men  and  all,  one  hundred  and 
thirty  answered  to  their  names.  Every  man 
was  ordered  to  load  his  gun  with  powder  and  ball,  but  in  no  case  to  fire,  unless 
they  were  attacked.  They  remained  some  time  on  parade,  waiting  for  the  enemy. 
Presently  one  of  the  messengers,  who  had  been  sent  to  ascertain  the  movements  of 
the  regulars,  returned,  with  the  report  that  they  were  nowhere  to  be  seen :  conse- 
quently the  men  were  dismissed,  with  instructions  to  be  in  readiness  to  report  at 
the  call  of  the  drum.  Some  of  them  returned  to  their  homes  near  by ;  others  took 
refuge  from  the  chilly  night-air  in  Buckman's  Tavern,  a  place  of  common  resort, 
just  opposite  the  old  meeting-house.  Quiet  having  been  restored,  no  doubt  many 
of  them,  after  discussing  the  matter  for  some  time,  gradually  fell  asleep,  in  the  con- 
fident belief  that  there  would  be  no  further  disturbance. 

About  half-past  four  o'clock,  however,  just  after  daybreak,  Thaddeus  Bowman, 
one  of  the  scouts  sent  to  reconnoitre  along  the  Boston  road,  came  galloping  into  the 
village,  with  the  news  that  the  British  were  only  a  mile  and  a  half  away.  Immedi- 
ately the  drum  called  to  arms ;  the  signal  guns  were  fired ;  and  the  bell  in  the  old 
belfry,  near  the  meeting-house,  rang  out  its  fearful  warning.  All  the  militia  within 
reach  hastened  to  obey  the  call.  They  were  formed  in  two  lines  on  the  northern 
side  of  the  common.  One  of  their  number,  Sylvanus  Wood  of  Woburn,  who  was 
present  in  the  ranks,  says  he  counted  all  that  stood  there,  and  found  only  thirty-eight 
men  under  orders.  It  :s  known  that  there  were  as  many  more  looking  on  who  did 
not  belong  to  the  company. 


BUILT  ABOUT   THE  YEAR    1690. 


It  was  a  critical 
moment.  The  des- 
tiny of  a  nation  was 
hanging  in  the  scale. 
This  little  band  of 
farmers,  standing- 
there  on  their  own 
training-field,  at  sun- 
rise, anxiously  look- 
ing for  the  king's 
troops,  were  ready, 
every  man  of  them, 
to  defend  their 
homes  from  invasion 
and  insult ;  but  they 


little  knew  what  mo- 
mentous interests 
were  pending  upon 
their  action.  They 
were  not  lawless  ad- 
venturers, eager  for 
a  skirmish,  or  wait- 
ing for  booty.  They 
asked  for  nothing, 
save  the  privilege  of 
enjoying  what  they 
had.  Though  many 
of  them  had  seen 
service  on  the  fron- 
tier, in  the  French 


and  Indian  War,  they  preferred  the  quiet,  inoffensive  pursuits  of  industry  at  home. 
They  did  not  follow  the  profession  of  arms,  though  they  were  always  good  marks- 
men with  their  flint-locks.  It  was  a  broad  patriotism  that  animated  them.  They 
prized  their  liberties,  and  would  not  tamely  submit  to  have  them  trampled  under 
foot.  In  this  they  made  common  cause  with  their  fellow-citizens  in  other  parts  of 
the  country.  And  so,  when  the  men  of  Lexington  arose  that  night,  and  "nobly 
dared  to  be  free,"  they  struck  a  blow  for  liberty,  which  resounded  through  all  the 
land. 

As  the  British  approached  the  village,  they  saw  unmistakable  signs  of  resistance, 
and  heard  the  drum  beat  to  arms.  Supposing  this  to  be  a  challenge,  their  com- 
mander ordered  them  to  halt,  load  and  prime,  after  which  they  doubled  their  ranks, 
and  marched  on  rapidly,  with  a  shout,  up  to  the  meeting-house,  where  a  portion  of 
their  number  left  the  road,  and  filed  off  in  platoons  upon  the  common.  The  provin- 
cials were  astonished  to  see  such  an  imposing  force  arrayed  against  them.  There 
were,  in  fact,  six  or  eight  hundred  altogether ;  but,  to  the  inexperienced  eye  of  the 
militia,  it  seemed  as  if  there  were  twelve  or  fifteen  hundred.  Major  Pitcairn  rode 
forward,  at  the  left  of  his  line ;  and,  drawing  a  pistol  from  his  holster,  he  command- 


ed the  Americans,  with 
mingled  threats  and 
oaths,  to  lay  down  their 
arms,  and  disperse. 
Capt.  Parker,  fearing 
lest,  in  the  excitement 
of  the  moment,  some 
of  his  men  might  dis- 
charge their  guns  too 
hastily,  cried  out, 
"  Don't  fire  unless  you 
are  fired  on ;  but,  if 
they  want  a  war,  let  it 
begin  here."  At  the 
same  time  he  threat- 


ened to  shoot  any  one 
who  should  attempt  to 
leave  his  post.  Pit- 
cairn,  finding  that  his 
orders  were  not  obeyed, 
and  hearing,  as  he  sup- 
posed, the  report  of  a 
gun  near  the  opposite 
wall,  commanded  his 
men,  without  further 
delay,  to  fire.  Seeing 
them  hesitate  a  mo- 
ment, he  brandished 
his  sword,  and  dis- 
charged his  own  pistol ; 


whereupon  the  first  platoon  fired,  but  without  any  apparent  result.  The  order  was 
instantly  repeated ;  and  a  second  volley  was  discharged  all  along  the  line,  with 
deadly  effect.  The  gallant  little  company  was  broken.  Several  of  the  men  fell 
dead  and  wounded.  Cries  of  distress  rent  the  air.  There  was  no  question  now  as 
to  their  right  to  resist;  and  they  immedfately  returned  the  fire. 

The  engagement  continued  on  both  sides  for  a  moment,  when  Capt.  Parker,  to 
prevent  further  bloodshed,  ordered  a  retreat.  There  was  a  scattering  fire,  however, 
some  time  longer.  Jonas  Parker  had  his  ammunition  in  his  hat,  on  the  ground, 
between  his  feet.  He  was  wounded,  and  fell.  Raising  himself  up,  he  discharged 
his  piece,  and  attempted  to  load  again  upon  his  knees.  He  had  often  said,  that, 


whatever  might  happen,  he 
would  never  run  from  the 
British.  He  was  true  to  his 
word.  He  fought  to  the 
last.  Such  persistent  cour- 
age attracted  the  attention 
of  the  enemy,  and  the  brave 
fellow  was  transfixed  by  a 
bayonet.  Jonathan  Har- 
rington fell  in  front  of  his 
own  house,,  on  the  north 
side  of  the"  common.  His 
wife,  who  was  standing  at 
the  window,  saw  him  fall, 
bleeding  at  the  chest.  She 
ran  to  meet  him.  He 
stretched  out  his  hands  to- 


wards  her,  but  soon  sank, 
and  expired.  Isaac  Muz- 
zy and  Robert  Munroe 
were  also  killed  on  the 
common.  Munroe  had 
served  in  the  French  war, 
and  was  ensign  at  the  cap- 
ture of  Louisburg,  in  1758. 
Just  before  the  British 
came,  Caleb  Harrington 
had  gone  to  the  meeting- 
house, '  with  three  others, 
to  get  some  powder  which 
was  stored  there  in  a  loft ; 
and,  while  attempting  to 
escape,  he  was  seen,  and 
shot.  Hadley  and  Brown 


were  killed  after  leaving  the  common.  Asahel  Porter  of  Woburn  was  not  in  the 
company,  but  had  been  captured  by  the  regulars  that  morning,  and  released  on 
parole  just  before  the  engagement.  He  was  shot  while  running,  a  short  distance 
east  of  the  inn.  Seven  men  were  killed,  and  nine  wounded,  —  more  than  a  quarter 
of  the  whole  company. 

"  Were  these  men  true  ?    We  ask  not,  were  they  brave,  — 
Men  who  their  lives  thus  to  their  country  gave  ? 

When  such  men  fall,  or  put  their  foes  to  flight, 
Resisting  wrong,  or  battling  for  the  right ; 
When  they  of  freedom's  army  lead  the  van, 
Or  fall,  as  martyrs  in  the  cause  of  man,  — 
Man's  heart  hath  never  willingly  forgot 
The  holy  day,  the  consecrated  spot, 
Marked  by  an  act  of  valor  or  of  faith, 
Or  by  a  noble  deed  or  noble  death." 

The  engagement  lasted  less  than  half  an  hour.  Only  two  of  the  British  soldiers 
were  wounded.  Pitcairn's  horse  was  struck  in  two  places.  The  officers  occupied 
a  conspicuous  position  for  a  marksman ;  but  the  smoke  enveloped  them  to  such  a 
degree,  that  it  was  almost  impossible,  during  the  action,  for  the  militia  to  see  the 


®-»ffift^icX|^^&i 

^jL^^^^^^-c^^^^^^^fe±^ 


line ;  and,  after  the  summary  slaughter  of  so  many  of  their  own  number,  they  saw 
the  utter  hopelessness  of  the  contest,  and  wisely  withdrew  to  seek  shelter  behind 
houses  and  stone  walls. 

It  has  been  a  disputed  question,  what  part  Col.  Smith,  the  commander  of  the 
expedition,  had  in  this  engagement.  The  best  evidence  seems  to  show,  that,  after 
sending  forward  the  greater  portion  of  his  command  under  the  major,  he  halted  some 
time  on  the  road  with  the  grenadiers,  possibly  to  await  an  express  from  Boston,  and 
also,  it  may  be,  to  prevent  any  communication  among  the  people,  who,  he  must 
have  noticed,  were  rapidly  getting  ready  to  oppose  his  march.  It  is  generally 
believed,  that,  when  he  heard  the  alarm  given  at  Lexington,  he  pressed  on,  and 
joined  the  troops  drawn  up  on  the  common.  The  early  prints  of  the  battle  repre- 
sent files  of  regulars  standing  in  the  rear. 

The  old  three-story  meeting-house,  which  was  such  a  prominent  object  at  that 
day,  was  taken  down  in  1793.  The  detached  belfry,  which  did  such  good  service 
on  the  morning  of  the  igth,  has  also  long  since  disappeared.  Most  of  the  other 

The  accompanying  sketch  represents  a  brace  of  pis- 
tols used  by  Major  Pitcairn  on  Lexington  Common. 
These  pistols  have  a  full  and  well -authenticated  history. 
During  the  retreat,  in  the  latter  part  of  the  day,  Pit- 
cairn's  horse  was  shot  under  him,  and  he  barely  es- 
caped with  his  life,  leaving  his  equipage  in  the  hands 
of  the  pursuing  Americans.  These  pistols  were  then 
taken,  and  were  subsequently  presented  to  Gen.  Israel 
Putnam,  who  used  them  through  the  war.  At  his 

death,  they  were  placed  on  the  drapery  of  his  coffin,  as  he  was  borne  to  the  grave.  They  became  an 
heir-loom  in  the  Putnam  family,  and  in  1827  were  brought  to  Lexington,  and  shown  to  three  mem- 
bers of  Capt.  Parker's  company,  one  of  whom,  Col.  Munroe,  recognized  them  from  their  peculiar 
construction  and  ornament,  and  said  he  saw  Major  Pitcairn  discharge  one  of  them  before  any  other 
shot  was  fired.  It  is,  therefore,  the  first  weapon  used  in  formal  action  in  the  Revolutionary  War. 
An  additional  certificate  accompanies  the  pistols,  signed  by  Col.  Aaron  Burr,  aide-de-camp  to  Gen. 
Putnam.  They  are  kindly  loaned,  for  exhibition  at  the  Lexington  Centennial,  by  the  widow  of 
John  P.  Putnam  of  Cambridge,  N.Y. 


buildings,  however,  that  stood  that 
day  around  the  common,  are  still  to 
be  seen.  May  they  long  be  preserved 
as  eloquent  though  silent  witnesses 
of  an  event  which  they  help  so  much 
to  illustrate ! 

As  soon  as  the  firing  ceased,  a  few 
of  the  red-coats,  it  is  said,  pursued 
the  retreating  farmers  up  Bedford 
(now  Hancock)  Street,  and  over  into 
the  adjacent  fields.  Some  of  them 
went  to  the  neighboring  houses  to 
get  water  to  drink.  But  they  soon 
re-formed,  fired  a  volley,  and  huzzaed 
three  times,  as  if  in  token  of  victory. 
They  then  resumed  their  march  to- 
wards Concord,  six  miies  farther. 

The  sun  was  now  rising  over  the 
scene.  The  villagers  immediately  assembled  in  large  numbers  on  the  common.  It 
was  a  strange,  a  horrible,  spectacle  that  met  their  eyes.  There  lay  the  dead  and 
dying, — honored  sires,  intrepid  sons,  heroic  brothers,  weltering  in  their  own  blood 
upon  the  tender  grass.  It  had  never  been  a  gory  field  before.  Such  groans  and 
sighs  had  never  been  heard  in  that  peaceful  village.  All  the  people  —  men,  women, 
and  children — now  ran  to  remove  the  dead,  and  assist  the  wounded.  Grief  and 
indignation  filled  their  breasts.  Words  failed  to  describe  the  intensity  of  their  feel- 
ing. Had  it  really  come  to  this?  Had  the  hated  British  dared  to  do  it?  Was 
there,  then,  no  reason  nor  justice  with  the  government?  Were  the  king's  troops 
thus  to  play  the  part  of  butchers  ?  Then 
let  it  be  so.  On  that  desolated,  but  now 
holy,  field  the  vow  was  made  to  avenge 
the  blood  of  these  martyrs.  Would  not 
"  righteous  heaven  "  approve  the  "  sol- 
emn appeal "  ? 

It  was  not  long  before  Capt.  Parker 
collected  the  remnant  of  his  little  band 
together,  and  marched  on  with  them 
after  the  British,  towards  Concord.  No 
holiday  soldiers  these,  after  such  a  fear- 
ful loss,  to  chase  an  enemy  like  that. 
Hirelings  would  never  have  done  it ; 
timid,  cautious  men  would  not  have  fa- 
vored it :  but  these  heroes  were  made  of 
sterner  stuff ;  and  they  had  the  honor  of 
being  the  first  in  arms  to  show  the  world 
what  Americans  meant  when  they  spoke 
of  liberty  and  inalienable  rights.  They 

'  *       FROM  AN  OLD  PLATE  BY  V.  GREEN,  ENGRAVER  TO  HIS 

captured,  at  different  times  that  morning,  MAJESTY.    PUBLISHED  IN  LONDON,  1777. 


A  part  of  this  house  was 
built  by  Rev.  John  Han- 
cock in  1698.  The  present 
front  was  added  about  the 
year  1733,  by  one  of  his 
sons.  Here  the  honored 
minister  died,  after  his 
long  pastorate,  in  1755. 
Here  his  grandson,  John 
Hancock,  the  distinguished 
patriot,  spent  several  years  of  his 
boyhood.  Rev.  Jonas  Clark,  who 
succeeded  the  venerable  Hancock, 

lived  in  this  house  during  his  eventful  ministry  of  fifty-one  years.  He  was 
the  intimate  friend  of  Gov.  Hancock,  whose  cousin  he  married.  Dr.  Warren 
and  Samuel  Adams  were  frequent  guests  here  during  the  period  preceding  the 
outbreak  of  the  war.  The  room  in  which  these  eminent  patriots  discussed  grave 
questions  of  state  is  still  to  be  seen,  very  much  as  they  left  it.  The  large  fire- 
place, the  ample  wainscoting,  and  the  hard-pine  floors,  have  undergone  no  apparent  change.  The 
same  figured  paper  adorns  the  walls.  The  old  andirons,  tables,  chairs,  and  jugs  may  still  be  seen. 
The  only  existing  likeness  of  Mr.  Clark  is  a  silhouette,  taken  in  his  wig,  by  his  youngest  son.  It  was 
on  the  ridge  opposite,  that  Adams,  hearing  the  approach  of  the  British,  uttered  that  prophetic  excla- 
mation, which  has  been  inscribed  as  a  classic  upon  the  town  seal.  Washington,  Lafayette,  Kossuth, 
and  other  distinguished  persons,  have  visited  this  ancient  homestead. 

seven  of   the  regulars  who  had  lingered  behind.     These  were  the  first  prisoners 
taken  in  the  Revolutionary  War. 

The  news  of  the  tragedy  at  Lexington  flew  like  the  wind  all  over  the  country. 
Men  and  horses  were  not  wanting  to  carry  the  tidings.  Before  noon,  an  express 
reached  Worcester,  shouting,  as  he  passed  through  the  streets,  "  To  arms,  to  arms  ! 
the  war  has  begun  !  "  His  horse  fell  exhausted  by  the  church.  Another  was  pro- 
cured, and  the  rider  went  on.  Alarm-bells  were  rung ;  cannon  were  fired ;  and 
messengers  sent  into  every  town.  Newburyport  received  the  news  at  about  the 
same  time  ;  Newport,  R.I.,  early  the  next  day.  The  battle  was  fought  on  \Vednes- 
day,  April  19.  On  Sunday,  the  23d,  between  the  church  services,  New  York 
heard  of  it ;  and  the  people  immediately  arose,  disarmed  the  soldiers,  seized  the 
fort  and  magazines,  unloaded  two  transports  bound  to  Boston,  and  forbade  all  pilots 
to  bring  any  more  king's  ships  into  port.  On  Monday,  the  24th,  at  five,  P.M.,  a 


courier  reached  Philadelphia, 
with  despatches  from  Lexing- 
ton. The  old  Independence- 
Hall  bell  was  rung;  the  news 
spread  like  wild-fire ;  and  thou- 
sands of  people  assembled  on 
the  square,  and  took  immedi- 
ate action.  Virginia  accept- 
ed the  royal  challenge,  and 
pledged  her  cordial  support  to 
Massachusetts.  The  citizens 
of  Charleston,  S.C.,  as  soon 
as  they  received  the  news, 
seized  the  arsenal,  and  de- 
clared themselves,  through 
their  Provincial  Congress,  as 
"ready  to  sacrifice  their  lives 
and  fortunes."  From  New 
Hampshire  came  a  message, 
"The  news  from  Lexington 
has  pierced  the  ears  of  the 
coin,  Bedford,  and  other  towns. 


inhabitants  of  our  colony ;  and 
our  men,  fired  with  zeal  in  the 
common  cause,  are  flying  to 
your  assistance."  From  Con- 
necticut came  an  encouraging 
word,  "  The  ardor  of  our  peo- 
ple is  such  that  they  can't  be 
kept  back."  And  beyond  the 
Alleghanies  the  news  finally 
found  its  way.  A  party  of 
hunters  in  rhe  beautiful  valley 
of  the  Elkhorn,  in  Kentucky, 
hearing  of  it,  gave  the  name 
of  Lexington  to  their  encamp- 
ment, in  honor  of  the  "  birth- 
place of  American  liberty." 

The  British  found  the  peo- 
ple of  Concord  ready  to  re- 
ceive them.  From  an  early 
hour,  the  militia  had  been 


pouring  in  from  Acton,  Lin- 
Messengers  had  arrived  with  exciting  news  from 
Lexington.  Col.  Barrett  had  improved  the  time  by  concealing  a  large  portion  of 
the  military  stores.  About  seven  o'clock,  some  of  the  militia  companies,  after 
parading  on  the  common,  marched  out  on  the  Lexington  road,  until  they  saw  the 
British  within  two  miles  of  the  village,  approaching  rapidly,  with  a  force  three  times 
as  large  as  their  own.  Accordingly  the  provincials  retreated,  and  finally  took  up  a 
position,  under  Major  Buttrick,  on  a  hill  beyond  the  North  Bridge,  about  a  mile 
from  the  centre.  The  regulars  entered  Concord  in  two  divisions.  Col.  Smith  and 
Major  Pitcairn  remained  in  the  town  with  the  larger  portion  of  the  troops,  while 
they  sent  a  detachment  of  about  two  hundred  men,  under  Capt.  Par- 
sons, to  hold  the  North  Bridge.  The  chief  object  of  the  expedition, 
the  destruction  of  military  stores,  was  only  partially  accomplished. 
The  news  brought  by  Dr.  Prescott,  and  the  subsequent  delay  at  Lex- 
ington, saved  thousands  of  dollars  to  the  colony,  and 
nearly  frustrated  the  whole  design  of  the  enemy. 
They  succeeded,  however,  in  knocking  off  the  trun- 
nions of  three  iron  cannon,  and  burning  several  gun- 
carriages.  They  also  broke  open  sixty  barrels  of  flour, 
half  of  which  was  afterwards  saved.  The  liberty-pole 
was  cut  down,  and  the  Court  House  set  on  fire ; 
though  the  flames  were  afterwards  extinguished. 

This  work  of  destruction  was  soon  checked  by  the 
report  of  guns  at  the  bridge.  Companies  of  minute- 
men  from  the  neighboring  towns  had  been  constantly 
arriving  at  the  rendezvous  on  the  hill,  and  they  now 
numbered  about  four  hundred  and  fifty.  They  saw 


the  depredations  which  the  Brit- 
ish were  making  in  the  town. 
The  ascending  smoke  revealed 
the  sad  fact.  It  was  enough. 
Brave  men  could  not  stand  by, 
and  witness  such  a  sight.  With- 
out further  delay,  they  descend- 
ed towards  the  bridge,  and  soon 
received  the  first  fire  from  the 
enemy.  Other  shots  followed 
in  rapid  succession,  by  which 
the  gallant  Capt.  Davis  and  Ab- 
ner  Hosmer,  of  the  Acton  com- 
pany, were  killed  on  the  spot. 
The  militia,  being  then  ordered 
to  fire,  poured  forth  a  deadly 
volley,  killing  two,  and  wound- 
ing at  least  eight,  of  the  regulars. 
This  was  about  ten  o'clock. 
The  firing  soon  ceased  ;  and  the 
enemy  retreated  in  great  haste 


to  the  village,  pursued  by  the 
provincials.  Col.  Smith  collect- 
ed his  forces,  and,  seeing  the 
imminent  danger  to  which  he 
was  exposed,  left  Concord  at 
noon  on  his  return-march  to  Bos- 
ton. The  invaders  now  became 
fugitives ;  and  the  retreat  soon 
turned  into  a  flight.  The  whole 
county  of  Middlesex  was  out, 
every  man  with  his  powder-horn 
and  musket,  ready  to  do  yeoman 
service.  The  deep  resentment 
of  an  injured  people  was  aroused. 
Without  much  order  or  disci- 
pline, they  posted  themselves 
behind  houses,  trees,  and  rocks, 
and  poured  an  almost  incessant 
fire  into  the  enemy's  ranks. 
Capt.  Parker's  company  again 
appeared  upon  the  scene ;  Wo- 


burn  "  turned  out  extraordinary,"  with  one  hundred  and  eighty  men ;  Reading  and 
Billerica  were  there  in  force.  The  British  column,  exposed  to  such  a  galling  fire 
in  flank  and  rear,  was  thrown  into  the  greatest  confusion.  The  officers  could 
hardly  keep  the  troops  in  line,  or  prevent  a  general  stampede.  Col.  Smith  was 
severely  wounded  ;  many  of  his  men  were  killed ;  and,  had  it  not  been  that  a  large 
re-enforcement  was  close  at  hand,  they  must  necessarily  have  soon  surrendered. 

Orders  had  been  given  by  Gen.  Gage  very  early  that  morning  for  three  regiments 
of  infantry,  and  two  divisions  of  marines,  with  two  field-pieces,  to.  be  ready  to  march 
at  four  o'clock,  for  the  relief  of  the  expedition.  Owing  to  a  series  of  blunders, 
they  did  not  get  away  from  the  barracks  in  Cornhill  until  nearly  nine  o'clock. 
The  brigade  was  under  the  command  of  Earl  Percy,  an  accomplished  young  noble- 
man of  the  illustrious  family  of  Northumbe'rland.  They  went  out  over  Boston 
Neck,  through  Roxbury  and  Brookline,  and  crossed  Charles  River  on  the  old  bridge 


y 


4tr™+*4 

^  ^ 


AUTOGRAPH  OF  JONA.  HARRINGTON,  THE  LAST  SURVIVOR  OF  THE  LEXINGTON  MINUTE-MEN,  WHO  DIED  IN 

1854,  AGED  95  YEARS. 


THE    PLEDGE   AND    ITS    REDEMPTION. 

RESPONSE    OF    LEXINGTON    TO    THE 

APPEAL    OF    BOSTON, 

DEC.,  1773. 

'WE  TRUST  IN  GOD,  THAT,  SHOULD  THE  STATE  OF  OUR  AFFAIRS 

REQUIRE  IT,  WE  SHALL  BE  READY  TO  SACRIFICE  OUR  ESTATES 

AND   EVERY  THING   DEAR   IN   LIFE,  YEA,  AND   LIFE 

ITSELF,  IN  SUPPORT  OF  THE  COMMON  CAUSE." 


NAMES  OF  THE  CITIZENS 

OF  LEXINGTON 
WHO 'FELL  IN  FREEDOM'S  CAUSE,  APRIL  19,  1775. 


ENSIGN    ROBERT   MUNROE. 
JONAS    PARKER. 
SAMUEL   HADLEY. 
JOHN    BROWN. 
ISAAC    MUZZEY. 


CALEB    HARRINGTON. 
JONATHAN    HARRINGTON,  JUN. 
JEDEDIAH    MUNROE. 
JOHN    RAYMOND. 
NATHANIEL  WYMAN. 


"THEY  POURED  OUT  THEIR  GENEROUS  BLOOD  LIKE  WATER,  BE- 

FORE  THEY    KNEW   WHETHER    IT    WOULD    FERTILIZE   THE   LAND   OF 
FREEDOM   OR   OF    BONDAGE."  — 


near  the  colleges.  The  baggage-wagons  fell  behind,  and 
were  captured  in  West  Cambridge.  Percy  had  nearly 
reached  the  village  of  Lexington,  when,  about  two  o'clock, 
he  met  the  returning  troops,  who  had  been  terribly  harassed 
all  the  way  from  Concord.  The  cannon  were  immediately 
planted  at  either  end  of  the  plateau,  on  which  the  combined 
forces  were  drawn  up  ;  and  for  about  an  hour  the  tide  was  stayed.  The  Munroe 
Tavern  was  taken  for  headquarters,  and  used  by  the  British  as  a  hospital  for  their 
wounded.  Six  buildings  in  the  vicinity  were  ruthlessly  set  on  fire,  and  burned  to 
the  ground.  Much  damage  was  done  to  other  property.  Ma  ..^  defenceless  persons 
were  grossly  insulted  ;  and  a  feeble  old  man  was  killed.  Aft  r  a  short  rest,  Lord 
Percy  abandoned  his  position,  and  ordered  a  retreat.  At  every  point  on  the  road, 
he  encountered  increasing  numbers  of  sharpshooters,  who  made  havoc  in  his  ranks. 
The  dead,  and  many  of  the  wounded,  had  to  be  left  behind.  His  ammunition  was 
nearly  exhausted  ;  and  he  made  all  haste  to  reach  the  end  of  his  fatal  journey. 

Meanwhile  Gen.  Heath  and  Dr.  Warren  had  arrived  upon  the  scene  of  action, 
and  did  much,  by  their  presence  and  counsel,  to  collect  the  scattered  provincials, 
and  form  them  into  military  order.  Minute-men  came  in  from  every  quarter.  Dor- 
chester, Milton,  and  Dedham  sent  large  numbers,  as  did  Charlestown,  Medford,  and 


This  building  was  dedi- 
cated April  19,  1871.  It 
contains  a  large  auditorium 
for  public  assemblies  ;  a 
free  library,  named  in  honor 
of  its  chief  benefactor,  Mrs. 
Gary ;  a  collection  of  Revo- 
lutionary relics  ;  and  a  me- 
morial hall,  adorned  with 
statues  of  a  minute-man  of 
1775,  and  a  soldier  of  the 
late  war  (furnished  by  Bat- 
terson).  Appropriate  marble 
tablets  are  placed  upon  the 
side  walls.  Statues  of  John 


Hancock  (by  Gould)  and 
Samuel  Adams  (by  Mill- 
more)  have  been  executed  in 
Italy  for  the  vacant  niches. 
Congress  aided  the  cause  by 
a  grant  of  condemned  can- 
non, one  of  which  stands  in 
the  corridor.  The  follow- 
ing is  the  inscription  over 
the  portal :  — 

LEXINGTON  CONSECRATES  THIS 
HALL  AND  ITS  EMBLEMS  TO 
THE  MEMORY  OF  THE  FOUND- 
ERS AND  THE  DEFENDERS  OF 
OUR  FREE  INSTITUTIONS. 


THE  SONS  DEFENDED  WHAT  THE 
FATHERS  WON. 


NAMES   OF   RESIDENTS   OF   LEXINGTON, 

AND  OTHERS   SERVING   ON    HER    QUOTA,   WHO    GAVE 

THEIR    LIVES   TO   THEIR    COUNTRY    IN    THE 

WAR    OF  THE   REBELLION. 


FREDERICK    D.    FISKE. 
CHARLES   H.   FISKE. 
BENJAMIN    F.    THORN. 
WILLIAM    DKCOTY. 
JOHN   MANLEY. 
CHARLES    H.   PUFFER. 
CHARLES   B.    HARRINGTON. 
CAPT.  CHARLES  R.  JOHNSON. 
CHARLES   CUTLER. 
EDWARD    E.    HATCH. 


JOHN    O'-NEIL. 
CORP.  JOSEPH    SIMONDS. 
CHARLES   FLAGG. 
WARREN    KINNASTON. 
JOHN    F.   BYRON. 
DENNIS  MCMAHON. 
THOMAS    H.   EARLE. 
TIMOTHY   LEARY. 
WILLIAM    GROVER. 
CHARLES    O.    MUZZEY. 


Lynn.  The  most  distinguished  company  was  that  from 
Danvers,  which  marched  sixteen  miles  in  four  hours,  and 
suffered  in  the  engagement  more  than  any  other  company, 
except  Capt.  Parker's  at  Lexington.  The  famous  Essex 
Regiment,  under  Col.  Pickering,  did  not  arrive  in  time  to 
check  the  return  of  the  British;  and  about  sunset  Lord 
Percy  reached  Charlestown,  and  crossed  the  river  under  cover  of  the  guns  of  the 
ships-of-war.  The  Americans  lost  that  day,  in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing,  93 ; 
the  British,  273.  The  day  ended;  but  the  sword  did  not  return  to  its  sheath. 
Throughout  the  Revolutionary  War,  the  anniversary  of  this  memorable  day  was 
"statedly  observed"  in  Lexington,  by  "the  militia  in  arms,  and  a  solemn  assembly 
of  the  whole  congregation  in  the  house  of  God."  The  sermons  preached  on  these 
occasions,  by  Rev.  Jonas  Clark  and  neighboring  clergymen,  were  all  printed ;  and 
they  form  an  important  part  of  the  literature  of  the  war.  On  the  cover  of  this 
"souvenir"  are  sketches  of  two  muskets,  drawn  from  the  trophies  hanging  in  the 
Senate  Chamber  of  Massachusetts.  On  the  upper  one  is  inscribed,  "  The  First  Fire- 
arm captured  in  the  War  for  Independence  ;"  and  on  the  other,  "  This  Fire-arm  was 
used  by  Capt.  John  Parker  in  the  Battle  of  Lexington,  April  igth,  1775." 


ed  to  the  Liberty  >nd  the  Right!  of  Mankind  :!! 
Sealed  and 'defended  witthe  Blood  oi  h 


of  Leiing 
nage 
ealt 

To  the  memory  of  their  Fellow  Citizens, 
Ensign  Robert  Munroe.  and  Messrs.  Jonas  Park 

Who  fell  on  this  Field,   the  First  Victims  ti 
Sword  of  British  Tyranny  and  Oppress 
oiaM 


And  Resolution  of  their  Fellow  Citizens. 

n's 

and 


Blood,  and  at  the  Point  of  th 
Defend  their  nat 
They  nobly  dar'd  to  be' free'.! 
The  contest  was  long,  bloody  and  affecting. 
Righteous  Heaven  approved  the  solemn  appeal, 

Victory  crowned  their  arms  ;  and 
ace,  Libertj 


<;\ 


PRESS  OF 

^''     RAND,    AVERY,    AND    COMPANY, 
117  FRANKLIN  STREET, 

BOSTON. 


THE  LIBRARY 
UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 

Santa  Barbara 


THIS  BOOK  IS  DUE  ON  THE  LAST  DATE 
STAMPED  BELOW. 


Series  9482 


3  1205026555662 


UC  SOUTHER 


D  0( 


